Flotilla: My Two Cents

For most of the past 2000 years the Jewish people have existed as a cultural entity, or a nation, without a state. However the atrocities of WW2 changed the ball game for them. In the Jewish mindset not having the apparatus of a state is what led to their wholesale slaughter, and the persecution that preceded it. If we are to look at international relations form a Constructivist angle, we acknowledge that each state has a personality and acts in accordance with this personality. In Israel's case having the apparatus of a state is at the forefront of their consciousness. Every action they take is done in accordance with this mindset. And whilst I am both a liberal and someone highly suspicious of states, I'm also not a fucking idiot and quite aware that for whatever high ideals I might hold, one needs to play with the cards that they are dealt. The State of Israel exists, and there's no fucking way in Hell that the Israelis are ever going to give up its existence. That is your starting point for any solution to the Palestine/Israel conflict. Anyone who does not acknowledge this is not serious about finding a solution.

Which leads me to the flotilla. By trying to break the Gaza blockaid in this manner they were being provocative. There was a highly romanticised sentiment involved in their actions, a real glorious hero fantasy at play. And whatever high moral ground they will take about transporting aid to Gaza, these people were well aware that their actions would be seen as highly antagonistic and inviting reaction by the Israeli Defence Force. I can't help but think this was their actual goal. The 1993 Oslo Accords granted Israeli the ability to inspect cargo entering Gaza by sea. Israeli offered to escort the flotilla to port, inspect the cargo, and the transport it to Gaza. This offer was ignored. This was a further antagonistic move. Whilst I don't condone the actions of the IDF, they never should have boarded the vessels, nor should they have used live ammunition. But the flotilla wanted this sort of overreaction from the IDF. They wanted it so fucking bad. This situation is a wet dream to the anti-Israeli crowd. These are people who I am convinced do not want a solution to the Palestine/Israel situation. They are ideologically driven and their only goal is to make Israel look bad. In this regard the are actually working against the Palestinians. The more irate antagonism Israel receives, the more defensive and aggressive it becomes. Which is not a reaction from Israeli I agree with, but one I know will happen. Israel sees hectoring criticism as just another form of continued Jewish persecution, persecution that post-WW2 they will not allow to occur in any form. Activists such as those on the flotilla refuse to acknowledge this side of Israeli psychology. Their tactics lack any sort of nuance or sophistication at all. They only serve to increase the Israeli stranglehold on the Palestinian Territories. This is something that should be completely obvious to them by now, but unfortunately, for the Palestinians, it isn't.